Those who work with community involvement or consultation are familiar with Gatekeepers. They are often worthy, salt-of-the earth types whose hearts are always in the right place, and who are invariably committed to their cause.

It is their names and addresses that are on your databases. They receive the invitation to attend meetings; the envelope containing the Consultation document goes to them. They read the words – Please will your ensure that interested people in your organisation consider the issues raised in this paper and let us know your views …. etc.

For every such request made in 1997, this year there will be three. What was an occasional and interesting diversion is becoming a regular agenda item for thousands of representative or umbrella bodies. Indeed we have passed the point where a response is guaranteed. These days, the first discussion is, Do we bother to participate in this? Only then do consultees start to consider; What do we say? He or she who places this on that agenda, and who administers that debate becomes the gatekeeper.